Informatics Publishing Limited

S. A. Shah

Abstract

The Forestry sector is currently facing an identity crisis; it has lost much of its former meaning. It has now to re-invent and re-establish its new identity ischolar_mained in the well-being of the people and the potential of tropical forests as now unraveled. The Twenty-First Century will be a century of the use of forests for their indirect environmental, social and recreational functions. Such a state of forests would also ensure the welfare of forest-dwellers and other forest-dependent communities. Change in the forest management objectives would be profound; from "Change Nature" to "Follow Nature". Nothing that Mother Nature has created is a weed. "A weed of today is a need of tomorrow". Ecosystem Management would, therefore, replace Conversion to Uniform Management. A living tree is more beneficial than a harvested one; biological maturity will, therefore, replace market-maturity. For a forest ecosystem to be sustainable, the sub-systems comprising the ecosystem need need to be sustainable. A sustainable whole is not possible without its parts being sustainable. The days of production partnership of all stakeholders have arrived. The need is for empowering the partners and making them accountable. Given a proper forest management environment, it would be possible "to have the cake and eat it too". This is what Forest Management in the Twenty-first Century and new millennium will strive for.

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S. A. Shah

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Forest Management during the 50 years ofIndependence has made a full circle: from Conversion to Uniform Crops and back to Conversion to Irregular Crops. The early years of Independence were characterized by production (for industry) euphoria. Von Mon Roy's Report on the status of raw material supply in the country and the National Commission on Agriculture's Report reinforced this industry oriented productiono The objective of Sustained Yield of Timber which guided and governed Forest Management during the early 30 years of Independence, could not be achieved. The concept ofaNormal Forest in which each age-class occupies an equal area came under attack for environmental reasons. 1980 was watershed year. The World Conservation Strategy altered the way we look at Forests and Forest Management. During the subsequent years, environmental awareness and consciousness swept the world. The Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the recent Climate Change Convention have all focused on the need to maintain forest cover, conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainability. This led to the stoppage of Clear Cutting System, and the need for increasing production of non-wood products for sustaining forest dependent communities. All this is possible only by making forest sustainable in all its dimensions. The forests of the country are sick and unstable and have suffered heavily in productivity. A little over 30 million ha have been degraded. The restoration of these forests requires a different approach; a different technology and a different administrative structure. This is one of the biggest challenges facing the foresters to-day.

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S. A. Shah

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Forests of India were and still are, largely managed for Sustained Yield of industrial timber assuming that sustainability of timber yield would be achieved. (Little difference was, however, perceived between Sustainable Yield of timber and Sustainable Forests). In practice, this did not happen. If Sustainable Yield does not mean Sustainable Forests then, what are these Sustainable Forests? Little is known, much less is documented about the numerous attributes of such forests. Hence this effort based on the author's field observations spanning about three decades. Sustainable Forest Ecosystems have several dimensions and sub-systems; Timber Production is just one ofthem. They are so much interwoven that if you touch one, you touch all. It is conceptualized that Sustainable Forests are environmentally sound, ecologically stable, healthy and supportive of all life forms which inhabit them; also, concomitantly, sustain forest dependent communities. It is argued that, Sustainable Forests cannot exist without Sustainable Communities. Also, if a part of a given forest ecosystem, say a village forest, is not sustainable, then the whole forest ecosystem cannot be sustainable. Sustainable Forest is a self-propelling, self-sustaining, self-fertilizing and self-regenerating machine designed by Mother Nature. It is a multi-species, multi-layered and all-aged crop. Its composition, architecture and alignment of various species within and between various layers is such that, it uses solar energy optimally at different levels as well as uses soil fertility optimally at different depths. In view of this, the biomass production is optimum, other things remaining the same. Sustainable Forests imply environmentally sound Logging, Harvesting, Transporting, Processing and Consumption.

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S. A. Shah

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The idealised concepts of a Normal Forest and Sustained Yield (of one/two timbers) which aim at simplifying sensitive and complex ecosystems which Nature took millions of years to evolve, have failed. The conversion of multi-canopied, multi-species and multi-aged natural crops Into one-canopied. One or two species of one age gradation has missed the tropicality and its human dimension of tropical forests. This has contributed directly and indirectly to the degradation and destruction of forests, unwittingly though. The productivity, protectivity, biodiversity and humanity functions have been jeopardised. Most of all, the management has created a human tragedy for about 60 million forest dwellers in India. One ha of a natural forest can support and sustain atleast 20 tribal families. More policing, more investment, more of Man-made forests and Community Forestry; despite them the destruction has exacerbated. Tropiealising, indigenising and humanlsing Tropical Forest Management Systems, associates indigenous people with all aspects of management, make the most use of their traditional knowledge. They know more about natural forests than we foresters do. Integrate use all of Common Property Resources for the benefit of the local people. Burden of industrial wood production be subetantially transferred from Forests to Farms. Experts have to reinvent Tropical Forestry. It is fallacious to assume that the suggested approach would bring down revenue, employment and Total production. In any case, the present level of timber production (one/two species) is Dot sustainable.

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S. A. Shah

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We are at an epoch making period in the Forest History of our country; either we make it a turning point or continue to move towards an ecological disaster. All that was genuinely believed to be good Forest Management, has turned out to be ruinous, in light of the new knowledge and new understanding. Even at present, Tropical Forests are inadequately understood at best and misunderstood at worst. Few are aware that there are Friendly Trees, Enemy Trees and Neutral Trees in Nature. Clear Cutting is unsuitable; man-made forests of one or two species have proved to be destructive of ecology. A large number of tree species is endangered, and a larger number has become rare, not to speak of numerous shrubs, herbs and grasses. The country is faced with a situation in which quality seeds of quite a few non-commercial species are difficult to come by. The composition of the forest and, the architecture and alignment of different species within an ecosystem, have been radically altered. The result is the undermining of the Protective, Productive, Human, Cultural and Environmental functions. The Paper describes how and why did all this happen. The ecological implications of the vegetational changes on Soil, Water, Wildlife and Vegetation have been described. In absence of Base-Line Surveys and adequate Research, only observations of the author have been indicated qualitatively. It is hoped that this document will stimulate Research and generate debates and discussions for a better to-morrow. Participation by all concerned, particularly experts from related disciplines, is imperative.

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S. A. Shah

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Multiple use of land and use of multi-purpose indigenous trees with a proven merit for improving fertility status of soil would govern Social Forestry practices in the 21st century. It requires strong support of new research dim~nsions with well trained persons. The active role of Government and voluntary organisations is necessary for proper implementation of Social Forestry programme. Social Forestry of the 21st century will be a self-propelling, selfsustaining and largely a self-reliance movement of the people. Govt. would provide the required finance, Technology and market facilities.

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S. A. Shah

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Success of social forestry implementation pre-supposes a suitable Training Programme. Being complex, multl-discipilnary and multi-dimensional. It demands a great deal of thought for identification of Target Groups and various Components of Training. The author was made an attempt to identify these two important parameters.

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S. A. Shah

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Non-Governmental Organisations have a great potential in promoting Social Forestry. They serve as a bridge between the Forest Department and the people. A few of these organisations, e.g, Village Reconstruction Organisation, Shanti Niketan, Shram Mandir Trust, Dasholi Gram Swaraj Seva Sangh etc., are doing tree planting successfully. However, they need considerable support in the fields of training, documentation, funding etc. The Forestry Extension Organisations will have to provide support activities and encourage Non-Government Organisations to expand their activities. For this purpose, suitable institutions at regional levels are indicated.

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S. A. Shah

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S. A. Shah

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Social Forestry, irrespective of the nomenclature used, aims at village self-sufficiency and self-reliance in regard to the forest based needs of the rural people. It should start with the rural poor and end with them. It deals primarily with poor people and poor lands. Social Forestry is a production system becanse it provides goods and services (largely non-monetised) needed by the rural people. It bas direct linkages with the Agricultural Production System and the Forest Production System. It helps increase agricultural production and productivity in a variety of ways. The maintenance of the Forest Production System is dependent upon the Social Forestry Production System. Thus, all these three major Production Systems are inlerlocked in the form of a triangle-Greea Triangle-which is complementary to the Red Triangle.

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S. A. Shah

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Practice of shifting cultivation as obtaining in South Konkan is described; points of difference between it and similar practices elsewhere are brought out. The evil effects of this practice are described in brief. The dependence of local populace on it is dealt with at length; in short, it represents the soul and the local populace, the body. This is the main reason why this pernicious practice is followed even after realization by the persons concerned that it is not the most economic method of utilizing the hills which are worth many times more. Principles governing a balanced land-use in this region are given and the solution is suggested.

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S. A. Shah

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Extension of the Rajputana Desert is highly controversial. But, what is agreed upon is the existing unfavourable conditions. Deforestation is reported to be the main cause of extreme arid conditions. Therefore, afforestation appears to be the main cure. As far back as 1945, Mr. J. Petty recommended very similar to what the ad hoc committee recommended in 1952. The main burden of their song is the creation of forests to the extent of 50% of the total land area. Afforestation having been accepted in principle, the question to be answered is: under the existing conditions, what would constitute the best land use - treelands or grasslands? Botanically, grasslands make more modest demands on soil moisture than do treelands. Hence, the former appear to be more suitable. Economically, treelands of Prosopis spicigera which have grown in harmony with the farm, the farmer, and the factors of locality are more productive of wealth. About 20 tree per acre coupled with afforestation of all available waste lands and creation of live hedges round all cultivated fields, would effectively immobilize shifting sand and provide fodder for goats. In addition, one of the greatest charges against grasslands is that in solving one problem of shifting sand, they create another of fire hazard. Therefore, judging from all aspects, treelands of Prosopis spicigera appear to constitute the best land use.

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S. A. Shah

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S. A. Shah

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S. A. Shah

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S. A. Shah

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Social justice implies the obligation to provide for the minimum needs which include cooking fuel, small timber for rural housing and agricultural implements, grass, grazing etc. which contribute to the stability of the life of the rural poor. Forestry has a role to play in meeting some of these basic needs. Various activities associated directly or indirectly with forestry have the potential of increasing the earnings of the tribals and other backward sections of the population. The labour intensiveness of the forestry operations is reflected by the fact that one hectare of potentially exploitable forest can generate an employment of 850 man-days in the primary sector itself, let alone the processing of the raw materials resulting therefrom, Cottage and small scale industries based on forest raw materials are capable of bringing employment to the very door step of the rural poor. Such industries do not entail heavy investments, sophisticated machinery or skills of any high degree. Bidi manufacture, tasar rearing, rope making, toy making, bamboo furniture making, etc., are but a few examples of such industries. Forestry, therefore, can be commissioned to reduce the disparity between the haves and the have-note and thus can serve as a powerful instrument of social change.

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Naresh M. Kalsariya ¹, R. M. Chodavadia ¹, P. B. Patel ¹, Z. N. Mevada ¹, B. P. Marolia ¹, S. A. Shah ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Quality Assurance, Maliba Pharmacy College, Bardoli-Mahuva Road, Tarsadi, Dist. Surat, Gujarat-394 350, IN

Abstract

Two spectroscopic methods for simultaneous estimation of cefpodoxime proxetil (CP) and ofloxacin (OFL) in combined tablet dosage form have been developed. The first method is simultaneous equations method which involves the formation of simultaneous equations at 234.90 nm (λ_max of cefpodoxime) and 298 nm (λ_max of ofloxacin). The second method is Q-analysis method (Q-absorbance ratio), which involves the formation of Q-absorbance equation at 271.60 nm (Iso-absorptive point) and 298 nm (λ_max of ofloxacin). In this both method the linearity was evaluated over the concentration range of 2-10μg/ml for cefpodoxime and ofloxacin. The accuracy of the methods were assessed by recovery studies and was found to be 100.9±0.16% and 98.22±0.44% for simultaneous equations method and 99.5±0.133% and 98.90±0.65% for Q-absorbance ratio method for cefpodoxime and ofloxacin respectively. The proposed methods are simple, accurate, precise, rapid and cost effective. Therefore the proposed methods can be used for routine analysis of both drugs in bulk as well as in pharmaceutical formulations.

Keywords

Q-Analysis Method, Iso-Absorptive Point, CP and OFL.

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M. B. Ravalji ¹, S. A. Shah ¹, D. R. Shah ¹, K. L. Daxina ¹, R. S. Chauhan ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Quality Assurance, Maliba Pharmacy College, Bardoli-Mahuva Road, Tarsadi, Dist. Surat, 394 350, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

Two simple spectrophotometric methods have been developed for simultaneous estimation of meclizine hydrochloride and caffeine from tablet dosage form. Method I i s a n absorbance correction method in which absorbance is measured at two wavelengths, 288 nm at which meclizine hydrochloride has no absorbance and 236 nm at which both the drugs have considerable absorbance. Method II i s simultaneous equation method which involves two wave lengths , 236 nm (for measurement of meclizine hydrochloride) and 273 nm (for measurement of caffeine). Both the methods were found linear between the range of 4-20 μg/ml for caffeine and 5-25 μg/ml for meclizine hydrochloride. The accuracy and precision were determined and found to comply with ICH guidelines. Both the methods showed good reproducibility and recovery with % RSD in the desired range. The methods were found to be rapid, specific, precise and accurate and can be successfully applied for the routine analysis of meclizine hydrochloride and caffeine in their combined tablet dosage form.

Keywords

Meclizine Hydrochloride, Caffeine, Absorbance Correction Method, Simultaneous Equation Method.

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S. A. Shah ¹, M. P. Vaghela ¹, B. P. Marolia ¹, K. L. Daxina ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Quality Assurance, Maliba Pharmacy College, Bardoli-Mahuva Road, Tarsadi, Dist, Surat, 394 350, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

Accurate, precise, rapid and economical method was developed for the estimation of Cefixime and Ofloxacin in tablet dosage form. The first order derivative spectroscopy wavelengths selected for quantitation were 312. 0 nm for Cefixime (zero cross for Ofloxacin) and 358. 2 nm for Ofloxacin (zero cross for Cefixime). In this method linearity for detector response was observed in the concentration range of 5-40 μg/ml for both Cefixime and Ofloxacin. The proposed method was successfully applied for the simultaneous determination of both drugs in commercial tablet preparation. The results of the analysis have been validated statistically and by recovery studies.

Keywords

Cefixime, Ofloxacin, Derivative Spectroscopy.

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D. J. Vanparia ¹, S. A. Shah ¹, B. P. Marolia ¹, K. B. Bodiwala ¹, R. K. Patadia ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Quality Assurance, Maliba Pharmacy College, Bardoli-Mahuva Road, Tarsadi Dist, Surat 394350, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

Two simple spectrophotometric methods have been developed for simultaneous estimation of Thiocolchicoside and Diclofenac Sodium from pharmaceutical dosage form. Method I is an Absorbance correction method in which absorbance is measured at two wavelengths, 371 nm at which Diclofenac has no absorbance and 248.5 nm at which both the drugs have considerable absorbance. Method II is dual wavelength method which involves estimation of Diclofenac Sodium by plotting difference in absorbance at 248 nm and 268 nm (difference is zero for THC) against its respective concentration. THC was measured at 371nm (Diclofenac Sodium has no absorbance). Both the methods were found linear between the range of 2-16μg/ml for Thiocolchicoside and 12.5-100μg/ml for Diclofenac Sodium. The accuracy and precision were determined and found to comply with ICH guidelines. Both the methods showed good reproducibility and recovery with % RSD in the desired range. The methods were found to be rapid, specific, precise and accurate and can be successfully applied for the routine analysis of Thiocolchicoside and Diclofenac Sodium in their combined tablet dosage form.

Keywords

Thiocolchicoside, Diclofenac Sodium, Absorbance Correction Method, Dual Wavelength Method.

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J. R. Jain ¹, B. V. Bhimani ¹, R. S. Chauhan ¹, S. A. Shah ¹

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Quality Assurance, Maliba Pharmacy College, Bardoli-Mahuva Road, Tarsadi-394350, Dist. Surat, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

Two simple spectrophotometric methods have been developed for simultaneous estimation of Drotaverine hydrochloride and Aceclofenac from tablet dosage form. Method I is an Absorbance correction method in which absorbance is measured at two wavelengths, 360 nm at which Aceclofenac has no absorbance and 276 nm at which both the drugs have considerable absorbance. Method II is First order derivative method which involves two zero crossing points, 249 nm (for measurement of Drotaverine hydrochloride) and 306.5 nm (for measurement of Aceclofenac). Both the methods were found linear between the range of 10-40 μg/ml for Aceclofenac and 8-32 μg/ml for Drotaverine hydrochloride. The accuracy and precision were determined and found to comply with ICH guidelines. Both the methods showed good reproducibility and recovery with % RSD in the desired range. The methods were found to be rapid, specific, precise and accurate and can be successfully applied for the routine analysis of Drotaverine hydrochloride and Aceclofenac in their combined tablet dosage form.

Keywords

Drotaverine Hydrochloride, Aceclofenac, Absorbance Correction Method, First Order Derivative Method.

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